"El Deivid," Leader of "La Chokiza," Imprisoned for Extortion, Kidnapping, Homicide

Mexican authorities have successfully apprehended David Mendoza Díaz, alias "El Deivid" or "El Chino," the alleged leader of the notorious criminal cell "La Chokiza." His detention at the Mexico City International Airport marks a significant step in combating organized crime in the region. Mendoza Díaz has now been transferred to the Ecatepec Penitentiary and Social Reinsertion Center, where he faces charges for express kidnapping with extortionate intent against a local merchant.

The operation, a joint effort by the Secretariat of the Navy (Semar) and the state prosecutor's offices of Mexico State and Mexico City, underscores the coordinated approach to tackling high-impact crimes. The Secretariat of Public Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC) has confirmed Mendoza Díaz's extensive criminal record, linking him to extortion, drug trafficking, homicide, kidnapping, and dispossession. His rise to leadership of "La Chokiza" followed the 2025 arrest of his brother, Alejandro Gilmare "El Choko," the group's founder, who is currently held at the Altiplano maximum-security prison.

"La Chokiza" operates as a "shock group" disguised as a social organization, with a significant presence in several municipalities within the Mexico Valley, including Ecatepec, Tecámac, and Coacalco. The group is known for its involvement in violent crimes and has reportedly forged alliances with other organizations such as USON, "Los Mayas," and "Troyanos Jr." Mendoza Díaz is also reportedly the head of "Sumando Amigos A.C.," an organization ostensibly dedicated to social assistance, raising questions about whether these activities mask extortion schemes.

Evidence gathered by the State of Mexico's Attorney General's Office points to Mendoza Díaz's direct involvement in a kidnapping on September 17, 2025. He is accused of ordering the abduction of a street vendor and demanding a ransom, escalating to a brief kidnapping when the victim initially refused. This case highlights the brutal methods employed by such groups and the constant threat they pose to ordinary citizens and businesses in the region.